On Wednesday afternoon, city workers and a locksmith arrived at Ruby’s Good Shoes, a popular brunch spot in Northeast Park Hill, to serve a warrant and change the locks after the owner, Hasena Williams, was cited for roughly $5,000 in unpaid tax penalties and late‑fee interest.
Approximately 20 diners were present when the officials explained the situation and gave Williams 30 minutes to finish orders and send staff home. Williams told Denverite she had generally kept up with taxes for the restaurant, but the balance reflected accrued fines and interest she considered excessive.
City response and community reaction
City representatives did not disclose the exact breakdown of the debt on record. After the locksmith secured the doors, a small crowd of patrons and staff watched as the venue was declared closed. Within an hour, a second Department of Finance employee arrived to “de‑escalate” the situation, and the locks were removed, allowing the restaurant to reopen that evening.
Community activist Jeff “Brother Jeff” Fard and mayoral candidate Lisa Calderón livestreamed the incident, demanding that Mayor Mike Johnston intervene. A city worker warned Fard that police could be called, but the mayor’s office later issued a statement that the shutdown was not authorized and that the locks would be taken off immediately.
Mayor’s office says a resolution is in progress
Mayor Johnston’s spokesperson, Jon Ewing, said the city has been working with Williams for six months and does not intend to shut the business down. “We are continuing to work toward a resolution in which she can keep her business open and also pay back the outstanding taxes she owes the city,” Ewing wrote. The city offered a payment‑plan meeting, which Williams declined, arguing that the fines and interest are unjust.
Williams, who opened Ruby’s in July 2025, has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in renovations, including a rooftop heating system to meet Denver’s green‑building ordinances and compliance with the city’s minimum‑wage requirements. She estimates operating costs at about $80,000 per month and says she has been forced to choose between paying workers and paying the city.
Support from local business advocates
Nonprofit leader Marcus Weaver of Lower the Barrier Colorado, who was among the supporters outside the restaurant, said waiving the penalties would demonstrate the city’s commitment to small‑business owners. “This is the perfect example of how the city could really come in and help – waiving fees,” he said.
Williams declined offers of direct financial assistance from supporters, insisting that the city itself should forgive the accrued fines and interest as a matter of principle.
Background on Denver’s tax enforcement
This is not the first high‑profile tax dispute involving a Denver eatery. Last year, the well‑liked brewery Raices was forced to close after a city order over unpaid taxes, prompting a similar outcry from its patrons.
While the immediate crisis at Ruby’s Good Shoes has been resolved, the incident highlights ongoing tension between Denver’s small‑business community and municipal tax‑collection practices. Williams continues to meet with city officials, including Chief Operating Officer Emily Garnett and Economic Development director Adeeb Khan, to negotiate a workable solution.
Original reporting: Denverite — read the source article.
